Category: Shoulder Surgery

When your shoulder is causing you great pain, you want the safest and the most effective procedure to heal it. But an accurate diagnosis is as important as the treatment itself.

Here is a look at different shoulder injuries that can vary in severity.

Rotator Cuff Tear

A rotator cuff tear is often caused in throwing and racket sports. The symptoms appear when one or more of the four rotator cuff muscles are strained or torn.

Common symptoms are gradually worsening shoulder pain. The pain is often worse with certain movements, including reaching overhead, reaching behind the back, and lifting objects away from the body.

Dislocated Shoulder

Falls or intense impact can bring about this excruciating injury. During the actual dislocation episode, the patient usually experiences severe pain. Often there is an obvious deformity of the shoulder region.

Patients may notice numbness and tingling in parts of their hand or shoulder after a shoulder dislocation.

AC Joint Separation

AC Joint separation is a painful sprain to the acromioclavicular joint on the top of the shoulder. It is caused from falling over an outstretched arm. Football players and cyclists who fall over the handlebars are often subject to AC separations.

Pains with arm movement, swelling and popping sounds with movement are common signs of AC separation.

Labral Tear

The labrum is a fibrous band of tissue that connects to the outer part of the shoulder blade’s socket. Intense impact and motion can result in a labral tear.

Shoulder pain that may be in the front of the shoulder, deep within the shoulder, or in the back of the shoulder is a common sign. The pain often worsens with overhead arm activities or throwing.

If you feel any of these or other injuries are adversely affecting your life, set up a consultation with the leading orthopedic surgeon in Phoenix, at Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at 480-219-3342. Dr. Adam Farber is a Board certified, Fellowship trained and an experienced knee surgeon in Phoenix AZ. He has a particular interest in sports injuries and treatments.

Tennis elbow is the painful inflammation of the tendon at the outer border of the elbow due to overuse of lower arm muscles, such as in hand twisting. An elbow brace is often recommended to allow quicker healing while undergoing treatment.

Has your doctor recommended an elbow brace? You may be wondering why you need an elbow brace. Here are three reasons why wearing an elbow brace is important.

Pain Relief

Tight muscle tension can produce much pain in cases of tennis elbow. Bracing can relieve that pain. When your muscles aren’t under stress, they get the much required rest which brings pain relief. The brace keeps the elbow free from any unwanted movement which also allows it to rest.

Stop Further Injury

An elbow brace gives a cushioning effect at end range to stop the bones from “slamming” together. This reduces forces on the elbow that can cause further inflammation, pain and swelling.

Injury Prevention

Most people look for pain treatment after an injury has occurred. But an elbow brace can help you prevent the injury before it actually happens. If you are involved in actions with repetitive overload on your forearm muscles, an elbow brace can be a great preventative measure.

If you are looking for effective elbow treatments in Phoenix, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at 480-219-3342. Dr. Adam Farber is a Board certified, Fellowship trained and an experienced surgeon and orthopedic bracing specialist in Phoenix AZ. He has a particular interest in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, elbow, ankle and knee.

The shoulder is one of the most used joints in the body. It is also the most flexible. But this flexibility also makes it vulnerable to injury due to repetitive motion and trauma. The most common shoulder injuries include rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, labral tears and clavicle fractures among others.

The treatments for shoulder conditions depend upon the cause and severity of shoulder pain. If you are suffering from a severely painful condition, you may need surgical shoulder treatments from an experienced surgeon, such as Dr. Farber in Phoenix. Surgical shoulder treatments may include minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery as well as open surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery or arthroscopic surgery offers several advantages over traditional surgery, such as smaller incisions, less trauma to soft tissues, fewer risks, less post-operative pain and faster recovery.

Surgical shoulder treatments in Phoenix can be used to treat –

Rotator Cuff Tears

Shoulder Instability

Labral Tears

Clavicle Fractures

Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder

Calcific Tendonitis

Biceps Tendon Disorders

Shoulder Arthritis

Your shoulder treatments will begin with a complete evaluation of your condition by your shoulder surgeon. Your doctor will discuss with you the possible treatment options, including minimally invasive surgery, if necessary.

To set up a consultation with one of the best shoulder surgeons in Phoenix, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at 480-219-3342. Dr. Adam Farber is a Board certified, Fellowship trained and one of the top shoulder and knee surgeons in Phoenix. His focus is on shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, labral pathology, arthritis and more.

The human body has an amazing ability to heal itself. Based on this principle, Platelet Rich Plasma therapy or PRP therapy utilizes the patient’s own blood components to stimulate a healing response in damaged tissues.

Your blood is composed of plasma, Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and Platelets. When there is an injury in the body, the platelets migrate to the site of injury to begin healing. Platelets release numerous growth factors and other proteins which assist with the healing process.

The PRP therapy uses injections of plasma, rich in platelets, to treat a variety of injuries to muscles and tendons, especially if fail to heal with conservative treatments.

PRP treatment at leading orthopedic clinics, such as Phoenix Shoulder and Knee, is used to effectively treat –

As more research with PRP is performed, it is likely that this list will expand to include numerous other orthopedic conditions.

To know more about PRP therapy in Phoenix, AZ, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at 480-219-3342. Dr. Adam Farber is a Board certified, Fellowship trained and experienced knee surgeon in Phoenix who specializes in sports medicine. He has a particular interest in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, elbow, ankle and knee as well as regenerative medicine, such as PRP therapy.

Athletes and people with an active lifestyle are prone to injury. Ankle injuries are one of the most common sports injuries. Stumbling, an incorrect push-off or an over-rotation can often lead to ligament damage. A brace can be extremely beneficial to prevent injury.

STABILITY

Taping and bracing, when applied before exercising, can improve the stability of the ankle joint. They can protect the ankle in case of sudden twisting movements which can otherwise result in injury or trauma.

AID HEALING

Bracing can help to speed up healing and reduce the risk of re-injury.

RESTRICT UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT

It also helps to prevent unnecessary movement while allowing normal movements wherever possible.

Orthopedic braces are easy to fit, are usually washable, can be pulled tighter to adjust and are skin-friendly. It is recommended that apart from taping and bracing, athletes should warm up properly before indulging in any sport to prevent injury.

Leading orthopedic bracing specialist, Dr. Adam Farber in Phoenix, uses bracing for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including instability, ligament sprains, deformity, fractures, and arthritis.

To set up a consultation with one of the best orthopedic bracing specialist in Phoenix, AZ, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at 480-219-3342.

Dr. Adam Farber is a Board certified, Fellowship trained and experienced orthopedic surgeon. He specializes in sports medicine. He has a particular interest in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, elbow, ankle and knee. His focus is on shoulder, elbow, and knee injuries/conditions, including rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, labral pathology, Tommy John surgery, articular cartilage injuries, meniscal pathology, and ACL tears.

The meniscus is a disc of cartilage in the knee. It works as a shock absorber. A torn meniscus can lead to arthritis, pain and swelling along with other symptoms.

Why Are We Talking About Golfers and Meniscus Tears?

It is because golfers’ knees are subject to turning and pivoting, stressing the meniscus. The constant twisting can make your knees hurt even more if you already have a meniscus injury. Wear and tear is another top reason for meniscus injury.

What are the symptoms of meniscus tears among Golfers?

Knee pain and swelling

Mechanical symptoms like catching and locking, instability or giving way

Mechanical symptoms indicate an unstable flap tear of the meniscus. Complex meniscus tears may not have any of the mechanical symptoms. If you have any, consult one of the best orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix, such as Dr. Adam Farber at Phoenix Shoulder and Knee Clinic, before you go golfing again.

What are the treatment options?

The treatment depends on the cause and extent of the tear. Most of you will not have Degenerative or complex tears can usually be treated with physical therapy.

For those with mechanical symptoms, surgery is often recommended. Minimally invasive surgery, known as arthroscopy, is used to repair the tear or remove a torn flap or piece.

Your doctor will consider many factors before recommending surgery. They include the type of tear, the cause of your tear, your overall health, and presence or absence of arthritis.

Are you considering going back to golf after treatment?

Before you go back golfing, you should have completely recovered from your injury and the treatment. Physical therapy can help recover strength, endurance and flexibility after a meniscus injury.

Minimally invasive surgery technique, Arthroscopy has revolutionized shoulder surgeries. Large, open incisions are no longer required. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery causes lesser trauma to healthy tendons, ligaments and muscle while reaching the joint. Any problems in the shoulder joint can be treated using very small incisions around the joint. Here are a few treatments that can be done using arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Labral tears

Labral tears refer to tears of the capsule of the shoulder (the labrum). Although smaller tears can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, a course of physical therapy, and possibly a cortisone injection, larger tears need surgery. This surgery can be performed arthroscopically using small anchors drilled into the bone. Then the labral tissue is sewn back into place.

Rotator cuff tears

Tears of the rotator cuff may occur after an acute traumatic episode, such as a shoulder dislocation. But often rotator cuff tears are related to overuse and wear and tear over time. Fuller rotator cuff tears may require surgery.

These repairs are done arthroscopically or in a minimally invasive manner without injuring the deltoid. This allows patients to get back to normal quickly and painlessly.

WHY ARTHROSCOPIC SHOULDER SURGERY?

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery can be performed without general anesthesia. That eliminates the risks associated with anesthesia. It does not cause much damage to the surrounding tissues, shortening recovery time and hospital stays.

To consult your surgeon to determine whether you are a good candidate for arthroscopic shoulder surgery, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at or visit www.phoenixshoulderandknee.com.